Listen to the interview with Al B. Sure! and SoulInterviews.com
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Multi-platinum singer, songwriter and producer Al B. Sure! returns with a new CD release Honey I’m Home on Hidden Beach Recordings Universal Music Group. The new album is a musical biography that tells of a journey of love, romance and relationships. This romantic CD is Sure!’s first studio-release in over 15 years since he first made his mark as one of New Jack Swing’s most popular romantic singers and producers.
Known for his distinctive falsetto and undeniable melodies, Al B. Sure!’s music became a blueprint for musical seduction. One listen to Honey I’m Home and fans will quickly realize Sure!’s legacy of romance has not missed a beat.
The 12-track CD features two covers and 10 original songs all co-written by Sure!, who co-produced all 12 songs.
When asked why he waited so long to bless music lovers with his fourth studio album, the Grammy-nominee explains, “I wanted to bring the art of romance back to music and I finally found the ‘right marriage’ with Hidden Beach Recordings. They respect the artistry of songwriting as I do and they allowed me to do what I do best as an artist—create music with meaningful lyrics that tell a story that (hopefully) everyone can relate to.”
Sure! does not want his fans to consider this album a “comeback,” but instead “Part II.” He insists, “I never left. I’ve been behind the scenes creating music and have been keeping busy in the entertainment business. Honey I’m Home is just the grownup version of me. Consider it In Effect Mode 2009– on Steroids.”
Delivering on Al B. Sure!’s promise of romance is the album’s first single, “I Love It (Papi Aye Aye Aye),” which Al co-produced with his longtime writing and producing collaborator– and cousin– Kyle “Break it Down” West. The sensual slow jam features Sure!’s enduring talent for wrapping a subtle message in an seductive groove and irresistible melody and is complemented by the passionate stylizing of renowned cellist Tina Guo.
Once word hit the music industry that Sure! was working on a new CD, other top hit makers eagerly came forward to work with “ABS!” including producer/songwriter Michael Mani, who co-produced the album’s infectious mid-tempo “Top Of Your Lungs.” Sure!’s sly lyrics– “You make me wanna shout that we’re done… and then I look at your face and memories make me wanna come….come back home to you” — reveals a classic love/hate tale between two lovers and is reminiscent of Al B. Sure!’s signature style of melodic storytelling.
Michael Mani also co-produced the heartfelt “Never Stop Loving You,” which tells the story of a love cut too short; and he co-produced the Sting cover, “Fragile.” Al focused his rendition to complement Sting’s original crafting of the song as “a classic song that evokes passion and emotion.” Sure! also covers “Lady In My Life,” to pay tribute to his long lasting relationship with Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton and his love for Michael Jackson’s artistry.
Collectively, each song on Honey I’m Home is a musical aphrodisiac, including the mid-tempo track “Whatcha Got,” which Sure! describes as a “straight NY club joint.” Yet, the alluring lyrics: “I can’t sleep if you’re not free….. friends no more, I can’t ignore, the way in which you got me”— along with the captivating melody and arrangement manage to bring romance even to the club.
The years Al B. Sure! spent as radio host provided him with a great source of material for Honey I’m Home. He notes, “People from all walks of life, from all around the world, would call and share their personal stories with me every night. I knew I wanted to do an album on relationships, because that is one of the common denominators between us all –love and relationships.”
It’s been nearly two decades since Al B. Sure! exploded on to the music scene in the late 80s with his debut album In Effect Mode. The multi-platinum selling album topped the Billboard R&B chart for seven straight weeks and yielded over four hit singles including “Off On Your Own Girl,” “Rescue Me” and Sure!’s irresistible signature hit “Nite and Day,” which reached the Top 10 of the Billboard R&B and Pop charts, solidifying Al B. Sure! as a bona fide star for all audiences.
The teen star went on to receive critical accolades and awards as well, including several Grammy nominations, a Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist and an American Music Award for Best New R&B Artist.
Al B. Sure!’s success was no surprise to Eddie F., who Sure! credits for launching his career, as well as the legendary Quincy Jones, who selected Al B. Sure! as the first winner of the “Sony Innovators” Talent Search. Al went on to work with Jones on several projects, most notably the platinum single “Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite),” from Quincy Jone’s multi-platinum album Back On the Block. The single, performed by Al B. Sure!, El DeBarge, James Ingram and the late Barry White, is considered a romantic classic and garnered the soulful quartet a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Group (Duo) performance.
Sure! went on to record two more hit albums: Private Times..And The Whole 9 and Sexy Versus, further establishing himself as one of music’s most innovative songwriters and producers. He has won several New York Music Awards & more than thirty-five ASCAP Awards for writing and music composition. To date Al B. Sure! has had over 15 singles reach the top of the Billboard charts, including “Misunderstanding”; the stirring duet with Diana Ross, “No Matter What”; “If I’m Not Your Lover” feat. Slick Rick; and Jodeci’s hit single “Forever My Lady,” which Sure! co-wrote. His inspiration for the song came from the birth of his son Quincy, named after Al’s mentor, Quincy Jones.
Shortly After Sexy Versus, Al B. Sure! took a brief hiatus from the public stage and parlayed his love for music into a career behind the music scene as VP of A&R for Motown Records.
Al’s outstanding ability for discovering and identifying unique, natural talent, led him to a young, beautiful songstress who he immediately employed as his demo singer after hearing her “instrument like” vocal chords. She will always be known to most as the “First Lady of Bad Boy Records” –multi-platinum recording artist Faith Evans.
The award-winning songwriter and producer helped launch the careers of other multi-platinum selling artists such as Jodeci, teen R&B performer Tevin Campbell, Dave Hollister, Case and Usher. Sure! has also generated some of today’s most inspired and innovative music and has worked with some of today’s most celebrated artists including David Bowie, Al Green, Teddy Riley, Richie Sambora, Rod Stewart, 112, Michael McDonald, among others.
Over the years the Hip-Hop culture has embraced Sure!’s music by either sampling or remaking more than 20 compositions from his melodic catalogue. Most recently Al B Sure! collaborated with Brooklyn’s own Duo Live for a remake of his No.1 hit “Nite & Day,” entitled “Princess,” featuring Fabolous.
For the past 10 years, Al B. Sure! has graced the airwaves as a radio personality, most recently on Clear Channel’s Hot. 92.3 in Los Angeles, which was the No.1 Urban AC radio show in its market. Before Clear Channel, Al hosted and produced his own syndicated radio show, “Secret Garden” through ABC Radio Networks. Every night Al took listeners for a romantic ride with current and classic music along with celebrity interviews and intriguing personalities from every spectrum of the entertainment world including Sports, Music, TV & Film.
“I’ve always had a love for radio,” Al explains. “When I was about 14, I started a radio show for my Bishop at my church in New Rochelle (New York). I had a four-track and I used to record his sermons and then mix it up and take it to the local a.m. station and host a show. This is when my love for radio began.”
In 2008, Al B. Sure! narrated TV One’s popular music bio series “Unsung” and earlier in the year he lent his talents as a “Music Industry Expert” to KTLA’s special coverage of the 50th Annual GRAMMY® Awards. In 2007 he hosted the pre-show for the American Music Awards and had a guest role in the CodeBlack /Universal DVD, “The HIT,” starring Blair Underwood. In 2002, Sure! co-executive produced the Jamie Foxx HBO Comedy Special, “I Might Need Security,” along with Marcus King, Gary Reeves, Ehrich Van Lowe & Foxx. He has gone on to launch a television production company and has several projects in development.
Sure!’s music has led him all over the world performing to sold-out arenas and has included guest appearances on shows such as “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Good Morning America,” “The Arsenio Hall Show,” “Rolanda,” “The Phil Donahue Show,” and local morning shows across the country.
Al B. Sure! has performed on various Awards shows including the GRAMMYs, The Soul Train Music Awards and The American Music Awards. Other performances include The Apollo Theatre, BET, Soul Train, “Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” and he provided guest commentary in the documentaries “Driven: Usher,” which highlights Usher’s time with Al B. Sure! & P Diddy and their guidance into the launch of his debut CD; and “Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones”; Al B. also assisted MTV Networks in launching its first R&B dedicated show on the Network by hosting “MTV Jams.”
Al is originally from Mount Vernon, NY and remains music’s most eligible bachelor, currently residing in Los Angeles, CA. He is devoted to his music and his three beautiful sons: “Lil Al B.”, 22, who recently starred in the MTV hit series “Rock the Cradle”; Devon, 18; and Quincy, 17— all budding young entertainers in their own right.
Between his busy career and family life Sure! is a huge supporter of Kids Talk ( HYPERLINK “http://www.kidstalk.org” www.kidstalk.org).The organization is dedicated to giving the younger generation a voice in society and helping them overcome obstacles to become future leaders. Al B. Sure! notes, “I’ve been very fortunate to have many mentors throughout my career and people who believed in me. My greatest desire is to share what I’ve learned and help open doors to a new generation.”
From his humble beginnings as Albert Brown, III and making music with his cousin Kyle in their family’s basement, to multi-platinum hits and superstardom, Al B. Sure! maintains that at the heart of his efforts is the music. “I have always been in love with music and the artistry of songwriting. I feel blessed to still be in business of making music.”
Playlist:
01 – Al B.Sure – Kick In The Head (Sexy Versus, 1992)
02 – Al B.Sure – I Love It (Papi Aye, Aye, Aye) (Honey I’m Home, 2009)
03 – Al B.Sure – All I Wanna Do (Honey I’m Home, 2009)
04 – Al B.Sure – Whatcha Got? (Honey I’m Home, 2009)
Background music during interview:
Quincy Jones – Secret Garden (Sweet Seductive Suite), Al B.Sure feat. Diana Ross – No Matter What You Do, Al B.Sure – Dedicate My All, Al B.Sure – Only You, Guy – Teddy’s Jam (Original), Heavy D & The Boyz – We Got Our Own Thang, Sly & The Family Stone – Family Affair, Al B.Sure – I’m Glad, Al B.Sure – Top Of Your Lungs, Al B.Sure – For Life
